Utah prides itself on being a family-friendly state, yet one of our most pressing challenges is providing accessible and affordable child care and flexible workforce arrangements to working parents. The Salt Lake Chamber recognizes that child care is not merely a personal family matter, but a crucial community and business issue influencing how, when and, for many, why we work.
Child care has long been a critical issue for working families. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, exposed the vulnerabilities within our child care system and underscored the need for better support structures and family-friendly workplaces. Many parents, particularly mothers, were forced to leave the workforce due to unreliable child care options. According to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 26% of Utah parents had to change child care arrangements due to COVID-19.
The consequences of inaccessible child care and inflexible workplaces are profound. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation found that 43% of Utah workers missed work at least once in the last three months due to child care issues, averaging 19 missed days per year. Furthermore, 10% of parents voluntarily left a job due to child care challenges, and 48% had to make significant adjustments to their education or work training in the past year. Missing work results in lost wages for employees and even a risk of termination. This instability not only harms individual families but also impacts local businesses and the broader economy.
There is vast, untapped potential with working parents. When parents leave a job due to an inflexible workplace or child care demands, this deprives businesses of valuable talent. Employers also face productivity losses and financial costs when employees are absent or leave due to child care issues. They often need to pay overtime or hire temporary workers to cover the gaps, costing Utah employers an estimated $1.10 billion annually.
The economic implications extend beyond employers and families and to the state of Utah itself. Decreased work attendance and turnover reduce income tax revenues and lower sales and excise tax collections. Utah loses an estimated $258 million in taxes each year due to these issues.
Businesses have a crucial responsibility in addressing this challenge. Creating family-friendly workplaces can significantly support employees and boost business performance — and it’s not too early to start thinking about that now.
In 2023, the Chamber released a guide for Utah business leaders to implement family-friendly practices. Recommendations include:
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Establishing flexible work arrangements,
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Utilizing Employee Assistance Programs/Employee Resource Groups,
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Providing a directory of local child care programs,
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Setting standard start and end times for meetings,
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Making schedules predictable by avoiding short notice or late communication,
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Contracting third-party companies to connect employees with childcare providers,
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Offering Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA), and
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Providing on-site or local child care facilities.
Utah is also making strides through regional Care About Childcare Partners, funded by the Utah Office of Child Care. These partners assist parents in finding child care options and support child care professionals with training and resources. The Children’s Service Society in Salt Lake City is one such partner developing a child care facility for underserved families and a training program for low-income individuals to become childcare professionals themselves.
Investing in child care yields significant returns — for every dollar invested in child care, there can be as high as a $9 return on investment. At the end of the day, we need more companies and organizations to commit to supporting child care and creating family-friendly workplaces.
By working together, employers and the state can organize flexible options for our families, strengthening Utah’s workforce and economy.
Derek Miller is the president & CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber.
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